Orion's Photo Focus On Vietnam

Orion Expedition Cruises is delighted to announced that award-winning British wildlife photographer, author and filmmaker, Sue Flood, is to join international photographer Nick Rains as a guest presenter onboard Orion II during a nine-night Vietnam Explorer photographic voyage departing March 30.

This voyage is an opportunity for enthusiasts of all levels to improve their photographic skills while on location in one of the world’s most photogenic settings, Vietnam.

 

Starting in Ho Chi Minh City, this voyage includes four photogenic World Heritage sites - Hue, Hoi An, My Son (above) and Ha Long Bay. There will be ample opportunity to experience and capture the cultural, historic and geographic diversity of Vietnam, including the Saigon River busy with sampans, the traditional fishing village of Baie de Cu Mon, which is rarely seen by outsiders, and Nha Trang’s Communist Party headquarters.

 

Nick and Sue will hold regular workshops onboard before taking guests ashore on location along with members of Orion’s specialist expedition team.

 

Photography workshops include professional advice and instruction on understanding and optimising camera settings, selecting the best lens for the occasion, framing your subject and ‘capturing the moment’ along with instruction on the dark art of digital editing-software and printing.

Explore, experience and shoot from dawn to dusk, with internationally recognised and awarded professional photographers; then relax, compare images and enjoy superb cuisine, wines and company by night onboard Orion II.

 

The nine-night Vietnam Explorer photo expedition departs Ho Chi Minh City to Haiphong (for Hanoi), and includes Nha Trang, Baie de Cu Mon/Bai Nam Beach, Da Nang (for My Son and Hoi An), Chan May (for Hue), Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba.  

 

Book before the end of February and save 30%, with prices from £3,850 per person, including eight nights on Orion II, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

 

About Sue Flood

Sue is an award-winning wildlife photographer, author and filmmaker. She joined the BBC Natural History Unit in 1993 and spent 11 years at the BBC, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to work with her childhood (and adult!) hero, Sir David Attenborough. Her experience including working as Associate Producer on the award-winning series The Blue Planet and also Planet Earth and the Disney nature movie Earth. Sue also produced four films for the BBC:  Polar Bears on Thin Ice; A Boy Among Polar Bears; Killer Whale Special; and Life of Mammals. In March 2005 Sue left to pursue her wildlife photography career and she is now a professional photographer, represented by Getty Images. Recognition of Sue’s work includes awards in the following competitions: International Photographer of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, the Art Wolfe (Best of Festival) Award in the International Conservation Photography Awards, and Royal Photographic Society Silver Medal.

 

About Nick Rains

Nick Rains, studied Zoology at university in Britain which led him to a career in photography. Over the years, Nick has worked with the Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism NSW, Penguin Books, Readers Digest Books, Shell Petroleum, BBC TV, Sports Illustrated, World Heritage Commission, Australian Geographic plus many more. Nick is involved with teaching and writing and is the editor of Better Digital Camera magazine. 

For booking info, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists. The Cruise Line Ltd.

See Vietnam The Orion Way

From Ho Chi Minh to My Son, Nha Trang to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is intoxicating. With energy and charm in equal proportions and a regal history of passion, war and conquests to rival any European history, Orion II’s nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyages include not one, two, but four UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hue, Hoi An, My Son and Ha Long Bay. Extraordinary, even by Orion Expedition's standards.

Whether it is the organised chaos of cruising the Saigon River with its junks, exploring the traditional fishing village of Baie de Cu Mon, rarely seen by outsiders, or exploring Nha Trang with its Communist Party headquarters, beach brewery and $1 lobsters for lunch, a voyage with Orion promises - and delivers - the unexpected.

Even Ha Long Bay is explored with fresh eyes. Seen from onboard a traditional junk, wending peacefully through the islands, the soaring limestone karsts are spectacular; venturing into limestone caves with the expedition team on Orion II’s Zodiacs adds another dimension completely.

In both 2011 and 2012 there are three scheduled nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyages, alternating between Haiphong (for Hanoi) and Ho Chi Minh City and including Nha Trang, Baie de Cu Mon/Bai Nam Beach, Da Nang (for My Son and Hoi An), Chan May (for Hue) and Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba. 2011 departures are November 18 and 27 and December 6, while 2012 departures are March 12, 21 and 30.

Prices start from £4,295 per person including nine nights onboard Orion II, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

For more info, visit www.orionexpeditions.com or contact the UK's leading adventure and luxury-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Viking Launches 'Magnificent Mekong' For 2012

Ahead of the launch of its main 2012 brochure, Viking River Cruises has released its 'Magnificent Mekong' programme with massive savings for early bookers. Double discounts, giving savings of up to £1000 per person, are offered on any Mekong departure booked by June 30 for travel in 2012.

The early release of the programme follows huge demand for the 16-day itinerary, which combines a land tour of Vietnam and Cambodia with a seven-night cruise on the 66-passenger RV Tonle, a graceful, French colonial-style vessel hand-finished in brass and teak.

Along the journey, highlights include visits to the ancient Khmer monuments at Angkor Wat; the chance to explore the floating markets of the Mekong Delta and the old city of Hanoi in Vietnam; as well as visits to the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh and the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Other escorted tours include a visit to hilltop Wat Hanchey and the Twin Holy Mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey; a small boat excursion through the Kampong Chhnang wetlands; a Cyclo tour featuring the Royal Palace and National Museum in Phnom Penh with an excursion to the Killing Fields; and a visit to the market of Prek Touch.

Prices start from £2,699 per person (with £1,000 discount) and include return flights from London to Hanoi and from Ho Chi Minh City (or vice versa); a seven-night river cruise with river-view stateroom; two nights' hotel stay in Hanoi, three nights in Siem Reap and two nights in Ho Chi Minh; 14 guided tours with audio headsets; and the internal flight between Hanoi and Siem Reap. A programme of 'Cultural Highlights' featuring a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony and a visit to the Siem Reap arts and craft school, plus a 'Culture Curriculum' programme giving language lessons and talks are also included.

For those with more time to explore the region further, Viking also has two add-on packages, with two nights at Ha Long Bay priced from £299 per person, or three nights in Bangkok from £599 per person, with escorted tours included throughout.

Full details can by found by visiting www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or via the river and adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.